Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
RYKER
I paced back and forth across the living room, tugging at my collar for what felt like the hundredth time. The damn thing was choking me, but unbuttoning it felt like surrender. Looking presentable was the least I could do to survive the impending disaster.
I glanced at my phone to check the time. “Only seventeen minutes until my personal hell begins.”
The sound of soft footsteps pulled me from my mental inventory of every way the night could go wrong. Mom approached with a sympathetic smile, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Biscuit, I’m so sorry about this,” she apologized.
I blew out a long breath, my anger from earlier fading into grim acceptance. “It’s fine. It’s not like this is my first time suffering through one of your matchmaking attempts, but it better be the last.”
“I promise. You’re with Harley now, and I respect that.” She gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“Thanks,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “What’s her deal?”
Mom’s expression brightened. “Oh, Maylin is lovely! She’s studying history and adores animals. Under different circumstances, you two might have hit it off.”
“Yeah, well, circumstances are what they are,” I muttered, checking the clock again. “And now I get to explain to this poor woman that she’s coming to the world’s most awkward dinner party.”
“She’ll understand,” Mom assured me. “And who knows? Maybe you’ll make a new friend.”
I snorted. “Right, because that’s how these setups usually end.”
Dad’s voice called out from the kitchen. “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes! Jacinta, can you come taste the sauce?”
“On my way!” Mom gave my arm one last squeeze before heading toward the kitchen.
As she left, I caught snippets of conversation from Sawyer and Gia, who were helping Dad with dinner prep.
“This is gonna be epic,” Gia whispered, but not quietly enough. “The disaster dinner of the century.”
Sawyer’s hushed giggle followed. “Should we place bets on how long it takes before someone throws something?”
“I’m more interested in how Harley handles it,” Gia replied. “Ten bucks says he goes full possessive boyfriend mode within five minutes.”
“You’re on,” Sawyer whispered back. “I think he’ll play it cool and charming. Kill her with kindness.”
“You realize I can hear you, right?” I called out.
Sawyer snickered. “Want to place a bet?”
I huffed with annoyance. “No.”
Before I could say elaborate, warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I almost jumped out of my skin before recognizing Harley’s familiar patchouli-and-lavender scent.
“Easy, snookums,” he murmured, his breath tickling me. “You’re wound tighter than a virgin at a sex toy convention.”
I leaned back into his embrace for a moment, allowing myself to draw comfort from his solid presence. “Can you blame me? This is going to be a nightmare.”
His lips brushed against the sensitive spot below my ear. “It’s one dinner. We’ll eat some food, make some small talk, and then she’ll leave. No big deal.”
“Says the guy who doesn’t have to explain to his mother’s latest matchmaking victim that he’s unavailable due to dating his male best friend.”
Harley chuckled, the vibration of his chest against my back sending a delightful shiver through me. “I’ll handle it if you want. I can be very persuasive.”
“No shit,” I muttered, remembering how persuasive he’d been over the past few days.
His arms tightened around me. “Besides, this is the perfect chance to flaunt what a catch you’ve landed. I’m thinking of casually mentioning how flexible I am.”
Despite my anxiety, a laugh escaped me. “Please don’t.”
“Or I could describe in great detail how I make you scream my name when I—”
“Harley!”
He pressed a kiss to my neck. “Relax, snookums. I’m only trying to distract you. It’s working, isn’t it?”
I scowled in irritation.
“Listen, the worst thing that can happen is an awkward dinner. We’ve survived worse.”
I was about to respond when the doorbell rang. The sound sliced through the house like a chainsaw. I tensed, every muscle in my body going rigid.
“Shit, she’s early,” I whispered, my stomach taking a nosedive straight into my shoes.
Harley turned me to face him, his expression serious. “Hey, look at me. Everything will be fine. We’re in this together, okay?”
I nodded, though I remained unconvinced. As the doorbell rang again, I broke free from Harley’s embrace and gestured toward the kitchen.
“Everyone needs to get in there right now,” I hissed, shooing Harley with my hands. “I need to talk to her alone first.”
Harley frowned. “That’s not a good idea. We should present a united front.”
“No, I need to explain the situation to her. It’s the least I can do.” I pushed against his chest. “Please, give me five minutes.”
“Ryker, I think—”
“Kitchen. Now.” I pointed for emphasis, my tone leaving no room for debate.
The doorbell rang a third time, more persistent than my alarm clock on Monday morning when I was desperately clinging to denial that another week had begun.
“Fine,” he sighed. “Five minutes. But if I hear anything resembling a horror movie scream, I’m busting in.”
“Deal. Now, go!” I practically shoved him toward the doorway.
As Harley retreated, Sawyer and Gia peeked around the corner with identical expressions of mischief.
“You too,” I growled at them. “And tell Mom and Dad to stay put.”
“This is better than reality TV,” Sawyer whispered to Gia as they scampered into the kitchen, giggling like two conspirators in a heist movie.
Taking a deep breath, I smoothed down my shirt, ruffled my hair, then walked to the front door. After a last glance to ensure everyone was out of sight, I plastered on what I hoped was a welcoming smile and opened the door.
My first thought was that Mom hadn’t been exaggerating about Maylin being a “nice girl.” She stood on our porch like the poster child for preppy college students, clad in a soft blue cardigan buttoned over a white blouse, a knee-length plaid skirt, sensible flats, and wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose.
Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she clutched a small purse as if it contained the secrets of the universe.
The tension in my shoulders relaxed. She was normal.
Perhaps even too normal. She looked like someone who volunteered at animal shelters and baked cookies for her study group.
The evening might be awkward, but maybe I’d get lucky, and it wouldn’t turn into a nightmare blind date filled with bizarre hobbies or boundary issues.
“Hi, Maylin,” I said, mustering my best polite smile. “I’m Ryker.”
She gave me a small nod. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Please, come in.” I stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter. “Sorry for the trouble. My mom can be enthusiastic about these things.”
Her voice was soft and pleasant as she stepped inside. “Oh, I understand.”
I closed the door behind her, already plotting how to break the news about Harley and me.
But without warning, Maylin’s demeanor shifted. She reached up with surprising quickness, capturing my chin between her thumb and forefinger. With scientific precision, she tilted my face from side to side, inspecting me as if I were a rare specimen under a microscope.
I froze, too stunned to pull away while she scrutinized my features with narrowed eyes. After a moment, she nodded with apparent satisfaction.
“Huh, so this is what you look like in this lifetime,” she remarked matter-of-factly, as if casually commenting on the weekend forecast.
I blinked, grappling with her words. “I—what? This lifetime? What?”
The unmistakable sound of muffled snickering escaped from the kitchen. Fantastic. My family and Harley were eavesdropping and already found the bizarre encounter a riot.
Maylin released my chin and took a small step back, unfazed by my bewilderment.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. We’ve known each other in eight hundred and forty-seven lifetimes so far.
” She waved her hand dismissively. “You’re not always this cute, you know.
During the Dark Ages, you were a plague-ridden rat catcher with a face so hideous that even lepers would cross the street to avoid you. ”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again, completely at a loss for words.
“But I’m thrilled to see I hit the jackpot this time,” she added, reaching up to pat my cheek. “You’re quite handsome in this incarnation. How exciting. This bodes well for us.”
The snickering from the kitchen grew louder. I heard Sawyer’s muffled “Holy shit,” followed by Gia’s barely contained snicker. Harley’s deep chuckle joined the fray, and I stood there, utterly speechless for the first time in my life.
Maylin tilted her head, studying me with a small frown. “You don’t remember me, do you? That’s okay. It happens sometimes. The memories usually come flooding back around our third date.”
More laughter erupted from the kitchen, no longer attempting to be subtle. I shot a glare in their direction, but it only fueled their amusement.
I found my voice. “Look, I think there’s been a misunderstanding—”
“About our past lives?” She smiled as she patted her purse. “Don’t worry, I brought my journal. I’ve been documenting our encounters since the Paleolithic era. Well, this version of me has. We’ve been star-crossed lovers since humans figured out how to walk upright.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out a leather-bound notebook that looked suspiciously new for something supposedly brimming with centuries of information.
“That’s not—” I attempted to interject, but she was already flipping through pages.
“Ah, here we are,” she declared, pointing to a page with the enthusiasm of a tour guide unveiling a haunted historical landmark.
“In 1543, you were a blacksmith, and I was a baker’s daughter.
We had six children before a runaway horse tragically trampled you to death.
” She looked up at me with absolute seriousness. “You always die in such dramatic ways.”